By Latika Bourke and Rick Feneley
- Malcolm Turnbull defeats Tony Abbott
- Comment: Abbott never cut it as a unifying national leader
- What Julie Bishop told her leader
Julie Bishop was Malcolm Turnbull's loyal deputy in 2009 when Tony Abbott rolled him for the leadership. Mr Turnbull doubted her loyalty in that vote, but she retrieved her ballot papers to demonstrate that she had supported him.
Her own position went unchallenged, however, and she remained as deputy to Mr Abbott. It was a demonstration of her wide support in the party. Mr Abbott praised her then as a "loyal girl".
On Monday Ms Bishop's high standing in the party became critical once again, when she withdrew her loyalty to Mr Abbott. It was her switching of support to Mr Turnbull that made his challenge possible.
Ms Bishop – the Liberal deputy since 2007, to leaders Brendan Nelson, Mr Turnbull and Mr Abbott – will be deputy once again to Mr Turnbull. But she had made it clear she would not remain as leader if Mr Abbott had won Monday night's party room ballot.
The difference Malcolm Turnbull may bring to Australia's position at UN climate talks in Paris is allowing Foreign Minister Julie Bishop more scope to negotiate on the ground.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Michael Kroger, the Liberal Party's state president in Victoria, told Sky News before the vote that the organisation would remain loyal to whoever won the ballot, but he noted that Ms Bishop's switch was a decisive move that would carry influence.
"It's an important choice for the party," another Liberal said.
Ms Bishop had told Mr Abbott before question time that he no longer enjoyed the support of the cabinet and the party room and his best option was to either resign or call on a ballot.
The influential Liberal senator and Turnbull backer Arthur Sinodinos, during an earlier interview on the ABC, confirmed the meeting took place.
Prime Minister designate Malcom Turnbull and Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop emerge successful after the leadership ballot.Credit: Andrew Meares
"She met with the Prime Minister before question time and put it to him that he had lost the majority support of his cabinet colleagues and of the party room and suggested that his options were to resign or hold a party ballot," he said.
Mr Abbott opted for the latter, declaring he expected to win when a ballot is held on Monday night. It wasn't to be.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott departs question time with Julie Bishop and Scott Morrison while Malcolm Turnbull remains on the frontbench.Credit: Andrew Meares
But her decision to give Mr Abbott the tap on the shoulder was praised within the government as a sign of her strength, given she risked losing her own job as deputy and potentially the foreign ministry, which she has described as her dream job.
Ms Bishop is considered one of the government's best performing ministers, along with Trade Minister Andrew Robb and Social Services Minister Scott Morrison.
Prime Minister Abbott and Julie Bishop during question time on Monday.Credit: Andrew Meares
She is extremely popular among Liberal backbench MPs and earlier in the year was considered a potential leader. But this changed as support solidified around Mr Turnbull, who had been party leader between 2008 and 2009.
She is viewed as one of the surprise stars of the government after bouncing back from internal undermining during her time as the shadow treasurer in 2008 and 2009.
Her decision to back Mr Turnbull was seen as equally significant as Mr Morrison's decision to refuse to run as Mr Abbott's deputy.